Re: 'The plays the thing'......auditions for Romeo and Julie
Sorry about the delay guys Took brain out of gear and forgot it was my turn
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The audition was just as he suspected it would be. Pretty damned great. Only the change of clothes came as a surprise. Seemed he wasn’t the only one who got dressed up for the part. Not that he had any choice in the matter unlike Kaitylin. Her costume if it could really be called that only added to the sense of physical fragility and innocence that she brought to the role, as she let herself get caught up in the part. Yet there was nothing fragile about the love Juliet had for Romeo that much she managed to convey all to well It was deep enough to withstand the loss of her cousin, deep enough ultimately to lead to tragedy.
Michael watched with admiration, glad that the girl was having her own special moment in the spot light before she helped Riley with his. She certainly deserved it and in any case he himself would have hated to have missed the performance. He only hoped it would impress Miss Clay as well though he couldn’t see how it could fail to do so.
Michael made his was down the stairs towards the waiting group of friends as Kaitlyn’s monologue continued careful not to distract from her performance however by any ill considered movement on his part. Grace and discretion were not easy things to achieve on crutches but he did his best and in the end came close. There was no way however that he was going to start up a conversation till Juliette’s last words died away into a silence he wanted to break with applause.
Michael glanced at the teacher in surprise. He hadn’t been sure that his own performance had merited comment but this one certainly did. So why was none forthcoming? Could it be that Ms Clay was just like that? And did that mean that he hadn’t been quite as dire as he had feared after all? That was a comforting though and one which he decided he was going to hang on to. At least until the roles were distributed that was.
The noise level was rising again as people started commenting on the audition . Michael seized the opportunity to rejoin his team mates wondering not for the first time what Scott was making of all this.No doubt fairy theatricals were very different but still. This was Shakespeare and surely his words were impressive in any world. If they were delivered properly Which was what they had to make sure Riley was ready to do wasn’t it? Michael just hoped the older student would be as enthusiastic about his solution to that problem as Michael was himself. Ah well there was only one way to find out.
” Hey Riley” he said brightly. “Remember I said you could use a Juliet to help you out with that scene?? Well the good news is that I’ve found you one. And the even better news is….that was her just now on the stage.” Ok The idea was launched Now all he could do was wait and see whether it flew or whether it crashed and burned.His fingers were already crossed.
Re: 'The plays the thing'......auditions for Romeo and Julie
Everything relied on help right now, Riley had never had to ask for someone’s aid as he now had seemed to receive from nowhere, but instead of feeling indignant he felt relieved and relatively pleased that someone was offering assistance without Riley having to actually fall to his knees and declare the obvious help he needed. It seemed another person took to the stage, a young woman whom had been with Michael scant moments before and Riley chewed his lower lip habitually with slight uncertainty. She sounded… amazing. It was as if she was really wherever it was her character was said to be, Riley could imagine her getting high marks on infiltration assignments and away missions where she had to blend in.
It would be nice if Catherine was here… to support him, to maybe try out with him, he’d die happy if he got to play her Romeo, he may have never read the story but he heard the phrase of it his entire life. Though maybe it was good she wasn’t there… a play devoted to passionate love, Riley would hate to embarrass himself up there, especially if he had to kiss her. Then again they hadn’t often had a calm kiss shared between them, usually physical contact was worked up between long periods of awkwardness, it made things difficult and confusing, but there always remained that underlying passion he couldn’t seem to escape. The eighth deadly sin. That’s what she was, that is what he would think of her now, he thought of this with an amused smile gently tugging at the corners of his lips as he stared somewhat spaced out at the stage.
“Hey Riley” Background noise had built up, and Michael’s brightly spoken words cut through the fog of thoughts. It felt strange being in a group, sure Riley was growing somewhat slightly accustomed to the dorm room, just for the fact that the people all seemed like decent company, but being outside with them, doing other things outside of work or study, it was all pretty new to Riley. When he first came most of the time he was just hanging around with Dawn, Lisa and Angela, plus their horde of friends, Riley never really called it the perfect situation, but it had taken a while to warm up to Connor. Michael was still awkward, and yet strangely pleasant… it was definitely – for lack of better definition – strange. But it was better to be awkwardly making friends then awkwardly avoiding people, and Riley was starting to admit that to himself, which was a big leap as far as progress was concerned. “Remember I said you could use a Juliet to help you out with that scene?? Well the good news is that I’ve found you one. And the even better news is….that was her just now on the stage.” Surprise shone clearly in the hazel gaze, Riley quickly looking over to the girl who was leaving the stage and then back at Michael.
"Ok." Far from thrilled, for the moment Riley sounded more stunned and anxious, but rather submissively accepted Michael’s offer as an already set in motion and carved in stone sort of deal. "You didn’t have to do that." It was an effort of a thank you for the effort but Riley’s rather lacking experience in offering out thank you’s made it sound rather flat, and it didn’t go by unnoticed by him, so he tried to offer the next words in a better tone. "Talking to her I mean." What the hell was that? Start over, stop being tense, and maybe it wouldn’t sound so mechanical. "I appreciate you talking to her, thank you for trying to help." There, that was better, wasn’t so hard either, he would have sighed if he could have, but that would have destroyed the sincerity he was aiming for. "A multitude of languages, and that’s the best I can do with them." It was mostly a shot at himself, and spoken over towards Scott with a brief glance.
"Trust my words Riley, when you have needs to speak, you speak well, or say your thoughts in an abundance of words. You have simply eaten butterflies," While Scott was trying to be nice and assuring, Riley was trying to assess if Scott was saying Riley tended to babble on about things, or if he just made sense when he talked.. and with the last comment Riley stared yet again in surprise, though this was more of amusement then anxiety. Scott noticed the look and merely shifted a little awkwardly as he looked at the others, "Is that not the saying?" Sure Connor had said ‘butterflies in the stomach’ and someone else also mentioned ‘I have butterflies’ and motioned to their stomach, at first Scott was astonished and worried they were serious but Connor assured it was just yet another confusing figure of speech. How ever Scott figured it made more sense for them to eat it instead of them just magically appearing… for Scott it made perfect sense to have eaten live butterflies, he figured that was the whole saying and they just shortened it or something, it wouldn’t be the first time they shortened things and just expected everyone else to know what on earth they were on about!
"Michael, should I go talk to her, or is she coming here?" Riley returned to talking to Michael, though Scott pouted slightly since he had wanted to know if he finally managed to say one of these silly human sayings right, but from Riley’s reaction he had to take it as a no. Oh well, there was plenty of other times ahead he was sure he could try testing out his developing skills in the human tongue.
Re: 'The plays the thing'......auditions for Romeo and Julie
Any response the other might have offered the truth teller was halted, as it seemed a lot of attention turned to the stage, word’s clear, well spoken, well dramatised even, broke through so many thoughts. It was perhaps an unusual scene to choose, but maybe that’s what made it all the more enticing. It wasn’t the tragic death scene, or the love filled balcony. No, it was a wife who felt distraught for her new husband’s punishment, dragged from her, their love still flesh. Despite the fact he had killed her own flesh. It was fear for her husband, love, in the midst of sorrow for her cousin.
Like many of the scenes, it was designed for two, for the nurse to be there, to give her cue to the young woman, newly wed, to deliver the fateful message in near riddle to her charge. Her cousin slain and her husband banished. Eeven so, it was a long speech for Juliet which followed the announcement, making it clear why Kaitlyn had chosen that section of the script. And the actions that went with it… Quietly, Hannah was proud. There had been too few auditions, and certainly many which held little quality. But this one was good. Very good.
It seemed not only had her persona changed for the character, but her clothing also. Michael had put up his own façade, his power looking for the role rather than himself in some ways. And considering the change in the older girl, she guessed a similar story was true for the actress. Because surely she hadn’t had enough time to change.
Hannah was quietly disappointed in the silence which greeted the conclusion of the audition. Like Michael’s, she had gone to clap, but this time stopped earlier, before she embarrassed herself. It was a shame though. She expected at least the students to applaud. But no, they just gradually fell back to the soft chatter, as if it were a mere interruption. And Ms Clay… just sat there, as if disapproving the auditions in some ways. But then, maybe that was how she worked, to prevent building false hope. Even so, the silence seemed a bit harsh. The truth teller vowed to tell her, congratulate her, on how good she was.
“She’s really good isn’t she?” Her eyes turned to the young man again, Nick. A smile graced her lips, her eyes bright as she nodded slightly. Good didn’t seem to sum it up. But she just hoped it was good enough. If she had her way, everyone would have the role they wanted. But then, they would end up with an obscene amount of Romeos and Juliets… and her as Nurse! The thought made her inwardly giggle before she spoke again.
”Yes. She was brilliant” The truth teller agreed, uncaring of the question he had posed her. Only if she was awful would she have had to tell the truth about it. ”The best Juliet so far from what I’ve seen, but then, that’s only my opinion..” She nodded more as she spoke, her gentle eyes turning to scan the crowd, wondering who the next auditioner might be. It was painful, waiting for those wishing for main parts to volunteer. Otherwise, she would have been up there in no time otherwise!
Spotting that Michael had moved over to Riley, curiosity grasped at her. Had Kaitlyn agreed to help Riley still, after being fore-warned that he had no knowledge of the role? Or was that why she auditioned now, because she had refused? Hannah turned again to Nick with a second realisation. She was consuming his time, time which he might want to read the script and audition himself!
”Anyway, it was great to meet you Nick, but I’ve been taking up your preparation time” She grinned at him, only semi-jokingly. ”Plus I promised to help someone out. Good luck with the audition!” Why, Hannah wondered, did she wish opponents luck like that? Did it matter? Oh well, in the end, the best would win, whoever that was. It was going to be skill, not luck, that let them gain their goal. And honestly, she was starting to place her bets on Nick.
Even so, with a happy smile and nod of departure, she turned, wandering down the auditorium towards the small gathering, just reaching hearing distance as Riley posed his question, thankfully for her actually directing it to Michael. Even so, her mind was still focused on her powers. She wanted to know how things had worked out, but wasn’t sure how to ask without, well, asking.
”Hey..” She said finally as she reached them, tucking a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear, glancing up at the now empty stage. ”The Juliet’s audition seemed to go well..” She said with a hopeful grin, glancing at Michael now, still trying to figure out how to ask him about the ‘plan’. As she pondered it, her eyes drifted over the small group of people. Apart from her power, it was a good thing that the young teenager wasn’t easily intimidated. Otherwise attracting attention to herself in the form of a bunch of older students may not have seemed like such a good idea. If anyone had been watching, they may have seen a slight rise of her eyebrows as her mind found a reasonable way to suggest her want for information, turning to Michael again.
”Well.. it seemed my idea went down well then” She grinned slightly as she spoke, though there was a suggestion to her voice, an openness which offered him the chance to disagree, or to offer the information she so desperately wanted to hear. She was sure she could remember who the other Juliets were if she tried. Heck, if worse came to the worse, she’d offer herself up to help Riley out! From what both he and Michael had said, it sounded like the other could use any help he could get.
"I was wrong, to think that I might belong. But I will never forget what I was... Who I am.. What I did, just to learn that"
Re: 'The plays the thing'......auditions for Romeo and Julie”Yes. She was brilliant, the best Juliet so far from what I’ve seen, but then, that’s only my opinion..”
Well from what Hannah was saying it looked as if this girl was probably going to be cast as Juliet, at least if he had been director she would have been his first choice. She was much better than the girl that had played the young lover in his high school and he knew full well that having a good Juliet would make it easier for him to immerse himself in being Romeo. And as Hannah was looking around the room he scanned the scenes that had been selected for the auditions and at once found the bit of dialogue he was going to perform. It was not necessarily his favourite bit in the play but it did convey to different sides of Romeo and he thought that it would give him a good chance of getting the part.
”Anyway, it was great to meet you Nick, but I’ve been taking up your preparation time, plus I promised to help someone out. Good luck with the audition!”
He smiled at her as she left and read through the dialogue once more. It was strange how easily all of this was coming back to him. But then again it was no real surprise, he had had to learn it all off by heart and there was bound to be remnants of the script left anchored in his memory. So he took a few deep breathes and decided that seeing as no one had stepped forward yet he might as well get the whole stressful process of auditioning over and done with as quickly as possible.
Once that decision was made, he got up and started to make his way to the stage and even though he knew that he could be a good Romeo his heart was still beating ridiculously fast. He hated the fact that he always had stage fright during the first couple of times he was asked to stand up in public, but it was a fact of life and he couldn’t do anything about except hope that he didn’t stumble over to many of the words.
And then he was up on stage and it was too late to turn and run now, although he dearly wished he could. So in order to steady his nerves and keep his lunch down he looked up towards the ceiling and somewhat into the lights in order to stop himself from seeing any of the audience, especially the stern Miss Clay who he had not yet seen but sounded terribly unforgiving. He knew that if he saw disapproval on her face he would fall apart so he just did not look in her direction, instead he tried to speak to the back of the hall.
“Nicolas Grayson, auditioning for the part of Romeo.”
There he had said it and now he was going to have to deliver. So he reminded himself once more why he wanted this part. It was because he wanted away from the Exiles, and if he got the part of Romeo he could then use it as an excuse to spend as much time as possible away from them. And he wanted it so that he could meet people that he might actually get along with. So he closed his eyes for a second took a steadying breath and began.
In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face.
Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris!
What said my man, when my betossed soul
Did not attend him as we rode?
The first few lines did not flow as smoothly as he had wished they would but he had survived them and with that he felt the cramp in his stomach ease somewhat. And that made it easier and more exciting to go on. He now felt able to add some movement to the speech and all of the things he had been previously been instructed to do by his old English teacher came flooding back. And he started to add the confusion and anguish Romeo was feeling into his performance.
I think
He told me Paris should have married Juliet:
Said he not so? or did I dream it so?
Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet,
To think it was so?
Romeo had never wanted to kill Paris and still felt that he owed him a proper burial as he had had no quarrel against him. And as Nick continued he mimed picking someone up and carrying them to another place. He had surprised many people in his old class by picking the boy that played Paris with such ease. No one had realised how strong he really was.
O, give me thy hand,
One writ with me in sour misfortune's book!
I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave;
A grave?
He had laid down the invisible body of Paris and turned his head slightly as if looking at a different area of the room. He was finding this whole audition very hard to do as he was used to actually having people laying there that he could look at and act to. Now he had to use his imagination to fill in the gaps. And he pictured Juliet lying there, though she was not the Juliet that he had performed with before but what his Juliet would look like if she were real.
O no! a lantern, slaughter'd youth,
For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd.
How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry! which their keepers call
A lightning before death: O, how may I
Call this a lightning?
In his mind Juliet was a tall and well defined woman, with hair the colour of fire and beautifully tanned skin. He had always like red heads ever since learning that his mother had red hair so that did not surprise him, but what did was that he could not come up with a face for his Juliet. For some strange reason he could not conceive what kind of facial feature she would have. Not that it mattered for the girl that had auditioned before would be Juliet and he was nearly at the end of his audition.
O my love! my wife!
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
The grief he put into the last part of the speech was real although he did not know what it was like to lose your true love, he did know what it was like to lose a mother. And he had often watched how his father had coped with her departure and he used the sorrow he felt when thinking of those memories to give these sorrowful lines the power they deserved.
He had cut the rest of the monologue as it was very long and he stood silently on the stage waiting for a reaction, or lack of reaction from the crowd or Miss Clay. He had done his best and it was just going to have to be enough. But who knew maybe if he didn’t get Romeo he would at least get some other part that would allow his to achieve his goals. Edited by: Nicolas Grayson at: 2/7/06 11:19 pm
Re: 'The plays the thing'......auditions for Romeo and Julie
Arisa quietly allowed herself to be led into the hall by Arlen, who to her relief was in a fantastic mood the past day or two, and took the lead as they plunged into the crowd. Connor stepped in their wake, encouraged along by the constant glances of his younger sibling over her shoulder. As little as everyone had seen her in the past few months she was not surprised to see that all the eyes were on Connor, there was no doubt the word of his amnesia had gotten around. Protectiveness flickered within her, seeing the stares that fell on him and the discomfort it brought she endeavored to draw his attention elsewhere by piping in little bits of conversation here and there over her shoulder, touching his arm lightly when their motion paused. The last thing he needed was to feel alone in a crowd of friends.
There was a strange aspect to taking care of him, even if it was only slightly, when for so much of her life he had taken almost exclusive care of her. Though it could never compensate for all the times he had to tolerate her clinging tightly to his hand for hours at a time when she was too young to be left alone, or for all the nocturnal strolls he took her on in the dead of night when she was too little to venture the grounds herself; it still allowed her to feel that she wasn’t solely a burden to him, that she might be a help when she had a chance.
The prince’s hand gently reached for hers, a smile curving her lips as his five fingers intertwined with hers, the merman never seeming to mind that her hand had only two stouter, sturdier fingers in the stead of the usual delicate four. She stepped lightly as she trailed behind him, turning her head back towards Connor as he spoke tentatively,
"I didn’t think it would be so crowded."
“Nor did I..”
She smiled slightly and shrugged, one never knew who they would run into at Xavier’s… It was easy tell the people who had moved in since she had left, they were the ones whose eyes flashed interest as she passed, smooth blue fur subtly catching the light and slim, demonic shaped tail swaying around her legs.
"Sorry."
“For what? Don’t be,”
She muttered a quick but earnest responce to Arlen's appology at tugging her around, continuging to follow along contentedly, mirroring his happy grin as he pointed out his friends from the crowd,
"She’s over there.. and there’s Vohan!”
Her eyes didn’t quite catch sight of Vohan, unable to place the name to a face as they had only met in passing, but she was able to follow Arlen’s gaze to a older girl, or younger woman, and a pretty one at that. She was sitting quietly as they approached, and offered both Arisa and her brother friendly smiles as they were introduced. Connor stood awkwardly, a strange contrast to Arlen’s casual, comfortable nature, and Arisa noticed Angela seemed to be somewhere in between. The young feral reached out a hand to the new acquaintance, a warm smile playing across her face,
“A pleasure, Angela.”
After their hands parted she moved to brush a few strands from her eyes, emphasized subtly with eyeliner and faint shadow. The shorter layers of hair laid along her cheeks, the longer curving at the crook of her neck. Her green gaze took in the nice beige, earthy tones Angela wore, mild and complimentary to her features. Arisa’s own skin-tone, or more so her fur-tone, was complimented by a long, flowing skirt of a misty grey-blue, and a light grey tank-top. Around her neck hung the scale Arlen had given her on their first meeting, encased in glass, but still beautifully shining in the bright lighting.
Re: 'The plays the thing'......auditions for Romeo and Julie
Riley looked surprised but not upset. Well at least not angry anyway. In fact he seemed not to know how to take the situation really. Which was hardly surprising, Michael thought since it had rather been sprung on him. Still he pulled himself together well. Ok was all he said at first , rapidly adding "You didn’t have to do that. Talking to her I mean." Riley’s tone was still rather awkward and unsure but it was at least vaguely positive. "I appreciate you talking to her, thank you for trying to help." Michael smiled in relief glad that Riley hadn’t taken his actions the wrong way. The last thing he had wanted was to be seen as an interfering busybody but it had been rather obvious that the older student had needed some help. And after all wasn’t that what team mates were supposed to do? Help each other?
"A multitude of languages, and that’s the best I can do with them." Riley went on, his eyes flickering briefly over to where the fairy stood as if seeking moral support from his friend. Michael was just about to point out that Shakespeare wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to tackle first time out when Scott lightened the mood in his own inimitable manner.
"Trust my words Riley, when you have needs to speak, you speak well, or say your thoughts in an abundance of words. It was well meant reassurance even if the end could be open to interpretation. “You have simply eaten butterflies," Michael noticed his own amused smile reflected on the faces of the others though it was tempered with a fondness for the fairy that drew any sting it might have had. Still the fairy looked a little crestfallen as he asked "Is that not the saying?" Michael was just about to explain where he had gone wrong when Riley cut in saying "Michael, should I go talk to her, or is she coming here?"
Oh .. she said she’d head over when she’d finished Michael told him looking to see if in fact Kaitlyn was heading their way. I expect she’s just got held up or……. ”Hey..” The girls friendly voice sounded near his shoulder causing him to turn slightly and smile. ”The Juliet’s audition seemed to go well..” Hannah went on, looking at him optimistically. “Well.. it seemed my idea went down well then”
“Yes it did he confirmed drawing her into the conversation and the group with a slight change in position. Guys he said looking at his team mates This is Hannah. Hannah these are my friends Riley, Scott and Tessa. Strangely enough it never crossed his mind that the girl might not see Scott. There was just something about her that made him sure she would. Hannah introduced me to Kaitlyn he explained. So in a way you have her to thank for how things worked out.
He was going to say more but suddenly there was another voice coming from the stage and what it had to say meant Riley was going to get a look at at least some of his competition. “Nicolas Grayson, auditioning for the part of Romeo.”He sounds about as confident as I felt Michael thought with a pang of sympathy.
Once the first few lines were over though, the words started to come more easily, any lingering shyness dropping away to reveal a competent actor who obviously knew the role well and had a feel for it that couldn’t be denied. It was a wise choice of reading to, showing the tragic end rather than the hopeful beginning that Riley was going for. Still it was good that they hadn’t both picked the same text. The contrast would make things more interesting and also would avoid a direct comparison between the two young men. It was going to be tough that was certain. Nick had a poise and a flair that would be hard to beat but still. .. Maybe its not such a bad thing after all Michael thought with a smile After all, from what I’ve seen Riley does always rise to a challenge
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